Drum snares



Sept.- 8, 1942. LE ROY J. JEFFRIES DRUM SNAKES Filed July 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l xx g M m um m w 1 1 P e r M & E 1 l n A M l a (6W 2 Huh 5 2 My? INVENTOR B zzfiorddffiw/zs Y WOQRZ M m ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1942.

LE ROY J. JEFFRIES DRUM SNAKES Filed July 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A TTORNE'YS Patented Sept. 8, 1942 DRUM SNAKES Le Roy J. Jefiries, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to C. G.

Conn Ltd, Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 22, 1940, Serial No. 346,752

7 Claims.

' This invention relates to drums and more particularly to drums having selectively operable snares.

In playing drums equipped with snares it has been the practice to provide different types of snares for difierent types of service. That is, a relatively soft snare formed of gut or silk or the like, is ordinarily used for orchestral and chambered type music, while harder snares of metal or of softer material wrapped with fine metal wire have been used for marching music, band work and the like. Heretofore, it has been customary for a drummer to have two drums, each equipped with a different type of snare to satisfy the requirements of the different types of music.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a single drum having a plurality of snares operable selectively so that the same drum may be utilized for different types of drumming requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drum having two separate snare units in which both of the units are substantially centered across a diameter of the drum. Accordin to one important feature of the invention this is accomplished by arranging the snares of the several units alternately.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a drum having alternately arranged sets of snares in which means are provided to prevent tangling of the snares such as might occur when the tension is removed therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a drum having a plurality of sets of snares which are selectively operable from one point on the drum.

The above and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a central section through a drum embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial bottom view of the drum of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the snare tightening mechanism of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative construction.

The drum of Figures 1. to 4 comprises a hollow body or shell I!) closed at one end by a vibratile head l2 forming the usual beating head which is drawn tightly over the edge of the body by a hoop I4. The opposite end of the body I0 is closed by a vibratile snare head l6 drawn tightly over the end of the body by a, similar hoop l8.

The hoops l4 and [8 may be connected by tension means to place the heads under tension as is well understood in the art.

The hoop I8 is formed at diametrically opposite points with openings 28 through which snare units, indicated generally at 22 and 24, may extend. As shown in Figure 1 the snare unit 22 is loose so that it will not be effective while the snare unit 24 is tight so as to be effective.

For securing the snare units in place a pair of brackets 26 are secured to the shell In at diametrically opposite points in alignment with the openings 20. Each bracket terminates in a fastenin flange to which an end of one of the snare units may be secured, and is formed with a folded over channel portion 30 forming a guide channel. A sheet metal clamp member 32, having a snare clamp 28 at its end to receive an end of the snare unit is slidably mounted in the channel formed by the flanges 30 and is adjustably connected to a second piece 34 likewise slidable in the channel by an adjusting screw 36.v As best seen in Figure 4 the bracket 26 is formed with an elongated slot 38 in which a pin 40 is slidable. The pin 40 is connected at one end to the piece 34 and at its opposite end is pivoted to a link 42 which is in turn pivotally connected to the mid point of a link 44 pivoted at one end on the bracket 26. The free end of the link 44 is connected by a link 46 to a lever arm 48 rotatable about an axis 56, swinging of the lever arm .8 operatin the links 44 and 42 in the manner of a toggle to move the pieces 32 and 34 in the channel formed by flanges 3 The arm 48 may be connected to an operating lever 52 directly, as shown in Figure 4, or may be connected through an elongated rod 54 to a second operating lever 56 arranged adjacent the lever 52, as shown in Figure 1.

As seen in Figure 1, the snare unit 22 is anchored at one end to the bracket 25 at the right of the figure, and at its opposite end is anchored to the clamp member 32 at the left of the figure. When the lever 52 is turned to the position shown in Figure 4 the clamp member 32 will be moved downwardly to release the tension on the snare unit 22 so that it will be loose, as shown in Figure 1. As also shown in this figure the lever 55 has been rocked to a position to raise the clamp member 32 at the right of the figure to which one end of the snare unit 24 is connected so that this snare unit is drawn tightly against the snare head l6.

As seen in Figure 2 the snare unit 22 is formed by a plurality of elongated tension elements 22a, and the snare unit 24 is formed of a plurality of similar elements 24a. It will be understood that one set of elements may be of a relatively soft material to give a soft action, while the other set of elements may be of harder material to give a more pronounced action. The individual snares 22a and 24a of the two sets are alternately arranged across the width of the snares so that each set of snares is substantially centered along a diameter of the drum. This provides a uniform action for both sets of snares.

In order to avoid the possibility of tangling of the snares when one or both sets is loosened, guide members 51, such as shown in Figure 3, ar provided. These guide members, as shown,

are formed of relatively thin strips of metal or the like having link portions 58 at their ends to receive the outermost snares of one set with the intermediate shares of the one set received between upwardly opening channel portions 60, and the snares of the opposite set lying within downwardly opening channel portions 62. In this way when the snares are loosened they are held in the desired alternating arrangement and there is no possibility of tangling.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the guide members 51 are arranged adjacent the periphery of the drum body l3 with the link portions 58 connected to the set of snares which is anchored to the fixed mounting 28 on the adjacent side of the drum. That is, as seen in Figure 1, the guide member 51 at the left of the figure is connected to the snares 24 which are fixedl anchored at the left of the figure, and the guide member 57 at the right of the figure is connected to the snares 22 which are anchored at the right of the figure. In this way the guide members 5! are subjected to a minimum of displacement as the snares are loosened and tightened, and the possibility of the individual snares slipping out of th guide members is minimized.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative construction differing principally in the method of operation of the snares. The drum parts in this figure corresponding to like drum parts in Figure l have been indicated by the same reference numerals for purposes of brevity. In this construction brackets 54 are secured on opposite sides of the drum body [0 and carry strainer devices 66 on which one end of a set of snares may be anchored. A pair of links 68 are pivoted on each of the brackets 64 and pivotally connect to float links 13 supported at their opposite ends on links 12 pivoted to the drum shell at points spaced from the brackets 64 to form substantially a parallelogram linkage. Each of the links is formed with a projecting end 14 and pivotally carries a clamping unit 18 which may be swung about its mounting on the link 10 by means of an adjusting screw 18. The clamping units '16 carry clamp devices 80 adapted to be connected to one end of a set of snares.

As shown, two sets of snares are provided, one set 82 being anchored to the clamp device 80 at the right of the figure, and to the strainer 66 at the left of the figure, while the other set of snares 84 is clamped at one end to the strainer 66 at the right of the figure, and its opposite end to the clamp device 89 at the left of the figure. The particular type of clamp device 80 illustrated includes adjusting screws 8| by which the tension of the individual snares may be adjusted although other types of clamp devices could, if desired, be used.

In order to operate the snare 84 the lever 12 at the left of the figure is provided with an extended arm 86 adapted to be engaged by an operator and moved toward or away from the drum body. In the operation shown, this lever is swung toward the body to raise the outer end of the link 12 thereby raising the clamp unit 16 and pressing the snares 84 against the drum head.

The snares 82 are operated by a similar lever 88 pivoted adjacent the lever 86 and connected by a link 90 extending through the drum body with a bell crank extension 92 on the lever 58 at the right of the figure. In the position shown with the lever 88 swung away from the body the lever 68 at the right of the figure has its outer end depressed to lower the clamp device 16 and clamp thereby moving the right end of the snare unit 82 away from and out of contact with the head [6. It will be noted that this operation does not release or vary substantially the amount of tension on the snares, but merely shifts the snares out of engagement with the head. By reversing the position of the levers 86 and 88 snares 82 will be moved into contact with the head l6 while the snares 84 are moved out of contact therewith. Snares 82 and 84 are preferably arranged alternately so as to be centered about the diameter of the drum head as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

While tw embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail it will be understood that these are illustrative only and are not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a plurality of snare units extending across said head with the snares of one unit alternating with the snares of the other unit, and means for selectively tightening the snare units against the head.

2. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a plurality of snare units extending across said head with the snares of one unit alternating with the snares of the other unit, means for selectively tightening the snare units against the head, and a pair of control levers mounted adjacent each other on one side of said body to operate said means respectively, each of said levers operating one of the snare units.

3. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a pair of brackets mounted on diametrically opposite points on said body, movable members on said brackets, a pair of snare units, each having one of its ends connected to one of said brackets and its other end connected to one of said movable members, the snares of said units being alternately arranged, and means to move said members selectively to tighten or loosen the snares.

4. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a plurality of snare units extending across said head with the snares of one unit alternating with the snares of the other unit, means fixedly connecting one end of one snare unit and the opposite end of the other snare unit to the body, movable members at spaced points on the body to which the free ends of the snare units are connected, and operating means for said movable members including a pair of control levers pivoted adjacent each other on one side of the body and an elongated control element connected to one of the control levers and extending through the body and connected to one of the movable members.

5. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a plurality of snare units extending across said head with the snares of one unit alternating with the snares of the other unit, means for selectively tightening the snare units against the head, and a guide member carried by the snares of one of said units and including parts engaging the snares of the other unit to hold the snares in alternating relationship.

6. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a pair of brackets mounted on diametrically opposite points on said body, movable members on said brackets, a pair of snare units, each having one of its ends connected to one of said brackets and its other end connected to one of said movable members with the snares of one unit alternating with the snares of the other unit. and a guide member carried by the snares of each unit adjacent their point of connection to the bracket and including parts engaging the snares of the other unit to prevent tangling of the snares when they are loosened.

7. A drum comprising a hollow body closed at one end by a vibratile head, a pair of brackets mounted on diametrically opposite points on said body, movable members on said brackets, a pair of snare unith, each having one of its ends connected to one of said brackets and its other end connected to one of said movable members with the snares of one unit alternating with the snares of the other unit, and a guide member carried by the snares of each unit adjacent their point of connection to the bracket and including parts engaging the snares of the other unit to prevent tangling of the snares when they are loosened, said guide members including a thin strip fastened at its ends to the outer snares of a snare unit and of undulating shape between its ends to provide guide channels for the snare of the other unit.

LE ROY J. JEFFRIES. 

